‘Low risk’ travellers waved through in border check U turn

Broadie Clark: a similar system led to his resignation as head of the border forceStephen Kelly/PA

Passport checks have been relaxed at the UK border as the Government trials a return to risk-based immigration controls at ports and airports.

The move is intended to reduce congestion at entry points into the country and to allow low-risk travellers to get through passport checks speedily.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has approved the easing of 100 per cent checks on every passenger just eight months after the row over relaxed passport checks led to the resignation of Brodie Clark as head of the Border Force. Immigration officers said that they hoped the current pilot would be extended, allowing them to focus on high-risk travellers as well as easing crowd pressures at arrival desks.